Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. March 27, 2020: Joint Letters to IOUs re: Essential Wildfire and PSPS Mitigation Work, March 20, 2020: Business Continuity and COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Response Plans. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, state and local governments have barred utility companies from shutting off services such as gas, electric and water. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. The state regulator also approved a plan that requires utilities including San Diego Gas & Electric to automatically enroll customers who are lagging on monthly payments into a two-year debt relief program. To leave anyone, especially children who rely on utilities to attend virtual school, without electricity or heat is unconscionable when these companies have guaranteed income and millions in revenue.. These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. Anyone facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to . Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut offif the utility service is needed to heat your homeand you receive service from an investor-owned utility, such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, or Berkshire Gas. You should also closely review your electric and gas utility bills to determine whether you are buying your electric or gas supply from your utility or from another entity, often called a competitive supplier. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. HARRISBURGThe moratorium on utility shutoffs expires at the end of the month, leaving more than 1 million Pennsylvania households at risk of losing their electricity, gas, water and telephone service. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Last month, regulators voted 2 to 1 to extend a temporary moratorium on utility shutoffs during the COVID-19 crisis for residential customers until Nov. 1. concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved "I asked a neighbor if I could plug in an extension cord to my refrigerator, just to keep it cold so I don't lose my groceries," she said. June 30, 2021: Emergency Customer Protections expire. But in cities and towns all around the country in Texas, Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, and more utilities have resumed cutting off water when people cant afford to pay. John Fetterman, a progressive who is running for U.S. Senate in 2022, said utility companies should be cooperative and understanding with Pennsylvanians in need. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. These pages cover more specific details that depend on the type of utility, and its critical that you use the right tools for your specific type of jurisdiction and type of utility. If you receive residential electric or gas service through a municipal utility, contact them directly to find out more about their shut-off policy and to hear about available payment assistance programs. When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. Shutoffs were allowed to resume Nov. 9 for some nonpaying customers, but existing commissionguidelines protected customers with income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The Governor's Executive Order establishes a six-month grace period in which no residential customer will face disconnection of their gas, electric, or water services before the end of the grace period on December 31, 2021. It also notes where federal agencies have not yet provided critical details, such as how the program funds will be allocated and how programs will be structured. San Francisco, CA 94102, Utility Business Continuity Plans and PSPS Preparation, CPUC Mobilizes Community Based Organizations for Pilot Program To Help Consumers With Utility Debt, CPUC Executive Director Letter Concerning Extension of Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service Through February 15, 2022, CPUC Acts To Ensure Essential Utility Services for Consumers at Risk of Disconnections, CPUC Actions to Protect Customers During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Utility Disconnection Moratoria and Arrearage Management - Presentation at CPUC Voting Meeting, CPUC Executive Director Letter Extending Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service through September 30, 2021, CPUC Provides Relief for Customers Who Have Energy Bill Debt, https://liob.cpuc.ca.gov/m-4849-utility-transition-plans/, Executive Director Letter to IOUs on Direction to Conduct Customer Data Validation for Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Executive Director Letter Extending Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service (Resolution M-4848) Through July 15, 2021, CPUC Extends Emergency Utility Customer Protections and Takes Further Action To Address Energy Arrearages During COVID-19, California Cable & Telecommunications Association, CPUC Implements Consumer Protections to Assist Residential and Small Business Customers, Workshop on COVID-19 Impacts on Customers in the Energy Sector, President Batjer Letter to AT&T regarding Legacy DSL Services Retirement, CPUC Letter to ISPs re: Affordable Broadband Plan Subscription Information, Remarks on COVID-19 Actions from Energy Division Deputy Executive Director, CPUC Letter to Program Administrators on Guidance on Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings Assistance Program Suspensions, CPUC Issues Proposal for Additional Customer Protections Due to Non-Payment, CPUC Letter to ISPs on Affordable Broadband Plans to Support Customers Affected by the COVID-19 State of Emergency. An additional "catch-all" category is also included for those who are unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control, such as unemployment or illness. The good news is that the recent federal COVID-19 relief packages including President Bidens American Rescue Plan enacted in March 2021 provide billions of dollars that can help low-income families struggling to pay their water and sewer bills. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Visithereor the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175 to find your local community action agency where you can apply for LIHEAP. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. To help bridge this divide, the CPUC approved a partnership with the Department of Education to fund $5 million in devices for students in need. Puget Sound Energy reported giving $7.6 million in bill credits to nearly 14,000 customers. Other CPUC Actions "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. Customers should consider the following: Replaced outdated light bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified light bulbs. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, https://www.dhs.pa.gov/coronavirus/Pages/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Program.aspx, Fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians can gather without masks, but only in these situations, COVID-19 vaccine motivation: Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts for showing vaccination card, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. The proclamations required these utilities to developCOVID-19 customer support programsthat would address payment plan options for residential customers who are in arrears due to COVID-19-related circumstances. New Jersey also has a COVID-19 Hotline staffed by trained healthcare professionals who are standing by to answer your questions, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week: To receive email updates from NJBPU,sign up here. May 7, 2020: Free and affordable Internet access and devices are crucial for low income students as they transition to learning from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. And commissioners said utility companies told them many customers had not set up plans for repayment during the moratorium. This partnership was previously. The financial impact of the pandemic has been devastating for many in our community and helping our customers by providing flexible payment options and access to bill assistance resources has been a priority for us, Prince said in an email. Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. If you qualify as income eligible, there are several programs, including: (1) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program that helps Massachusetts residents pay their heating bills; (2) the low-income discount rate program for investor-owned electric and gas utility customers; and (3) arrearage management programs (AMPs) for investor-owned electric and gas utility customers. Individual competitive suppliers (in other words, suppliers that are not part of a community choice program) often charge higher rates than your utilitys rates. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. Most Massachusetts investor-owned electric and gas utility companies offer deferred payment arrangements which allow the customer to set up a customized, manageable payment plan. Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut off if the utility service is needed to heat your home and you receive service from an investor-owned utility, such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, or Berkshire Gas. At all other times, if you are experiencing financial hardshipandone of the following applies, your electric or gas cannot be shut off without permission from the Department of Public Utilities: In addition, payment plans are available to avoid shut off and manage utility bills. . Other assistance programs for income-eligible customers are available year-round through investor-owned gas and electric utilities, including a low-income discount rate program, which helps make bills more manageable, and an arrearage management program (AMP), which helps customers who have an unpaid balance on their bill and are struggling to pay. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. Also, utilities may assign delinquent customer debts to licensed collection agencies under the authority provided inRCW 19.16.500and pursuant to a written contract with a licensed agency. The New Jersey moratorium on gas and electric companies shutting off service due to non-payment during the coronavirus pandemic is set to expire at the end of the year and the state has sent . Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. The update also adds a link to the Washington State Department of Healths Customer Assistance Program. The fact sheet describes what is currently known of the program and will be updated as HHS releases more information. For more information, visit:https://www.dhs.pa.gov/coronavirus/Pages/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Program.aspx, More:Fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians can gather without masks, but only in these situations, More:COVID-19 vaccine motivation: Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts for showing vaccination card. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. The good news: After we confirmed to Fields' provider that she would be getting pandemic aid to pay the bill, the utility agreed to restore her electricity. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. MRSC has consolidated additional information in the Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans section of our COVID-19 Small Business and Tenant Assistance Programs webpage. Those figures were roughly the same in April 2018. It can reduce electric bills 30 to 35 percent. Utilities - Billing and Collection. In addition, more than 5,000 utility customers statewide have received $2.8 million from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program that helps renters with unpaid bills and California was allocated $1.5 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act that homeowners can apply to utility bill relief. COVID-19 If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC. https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml, https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, These LIHEAP funds, combined with assistance from ERAP, will significantly reduce the impact of the lifting of the moratorium, and prevent potentially hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians from facing termination, Wolf said. Maintaining access to water and other essential utility services remains as vital as ever to safeguard public health, as the pandemic continues. SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that will restrict water shutoffs to homes and small businesses while the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, they do not prohibit your payment plans from including interest or late fees for missing a payment after the effective date of the payment plan. Thank you for your website feedback! Customers with higher income levels will be offered payment plans of at least one or two years. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. The proclamations also did not prohibit any utility from disconnecting water, power, or telecommunications service if the customer does not comply with the terms of a payment plan. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. Utilities said that few customers responded to pleas to enroll in payment plans or to apply for assistance, and few customers were shut off. But utilities will have to balance their need to maintain their revenue stream with the reality that some of their customers may not have the ability to pay the past-due debt and keep up with current expenses. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. 2023 www.goerie.com. He also has been a legal policy advisor for the Pierce County Council and has worked in contract administration. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. The White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. The financial effect of the pandemic has hit utility customers hard in California, a state that is home to one of the highest electricity rates in the country. A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC) shows there are now 38 states where the moratorium on shutoffs has expired or is voluntary for utility companies. (Rob Nikolewski/The San Diego Union-Tribune), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, California Public Utilities Commission passed an extension, extended the moratorium earlier this year, one of the highest electricity rates in the country, California Alternate Rates for Energy, or CARE, and the Family Electric Rates Assistance, or FERA programs, Is your utility bill going to get even higher? In addition, 2020 collection reports for the individual Electric Distribution Companies (EDC) and Gas Distribution Companies (GDC) are available via NJBPU's Public Document Searchtool. If you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. The Wolf Administration is working to get money provided by the December stimulus package and the American Rescue Plan in March out to qualifying renters and utility customers as quickly as possible to help with overdue balances, the governors press secretary Lyndsay Kensinger said. You can also follow us on social media: Electric and Gas Arrearages Summary as of October, 2022 (PDF). Henry McMaster urged the companies in a . Source: Executive Order No. But since many utilities issue a combined utility bill it may be difficult to separate out services for which it can charge late fees from those it cannot. Governor Inslee issuedProclamation 20-23.16 on July 2, 2021, which extended the utility shutoff moratorium through September 30, 2021. We will The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. Some page levels are currently hidden. People can apply for assistance online at TRR's website or over the phone by calling the TRR call center at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). However, the California data do not include arrears for customers of wastewater-only utilities. travels to Asia to strengthen business ties, How major US stock indexes fared Friday 3/3/2023, There is nothing warm and welcoming about it. San Diegos cruise ship terminal will get first makeover in 40 years, How to get your security deposit back in San Diego, Rapid reversal of price growth: San Diego home prices declining more quickly than other cities, San Diego rent increases are slowing. March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. The AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. SDG&E spokeswoman Sara Prince said the utility supports the CPUCs moves. This new law provides several important safeguards for residential utility customers by: prohibiting shutoffs during the COVID-19 state of emergency for non-payment of a utility bill;. To learn about these payment programs, and whether they are offered by your utility, please contact your utility. As a quick refresher, take a look at MRSCs Collection Practices for Delinquent Utility Accountswebpage, our Utility Liens and Shutoffs Tool, and our February 22, 2021 blog:A Quick Guide to Utility Account Overcharges, Undercharges, and the Statute of Limitations. 1990)]. Water and electrical services have a statutory lien under RCW 35.21.290, but enforcement of the lien is limited to shutting off the utility by RCW 35.21.300. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. A lock icon ( For FAQs on the end of the moratorium and the six-month grace period, click here. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. Auth. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. An increase in your homes energy efficiency should result in lower utility bills over time. Plus, more than half the amount owed comes from customers not enrolled in assistance programs that help defray utility bills. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. Last month, Ayanna McClure learned how quickly landlords were filing eviction notices when the moratoriums expired. February 22 2023. A recent report by Duke University researchers found that, if utility disconnections had been barred nationwide from March through November 2020, COVID-19 infections rates could have been reduced . The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium. You may be able to pause mortgage payments, credit card bills, bank fees and more during the pandemic. "I think that we could have been narrower, help those in need, prevent people from digging a bigger hole than they're already in, and eventually driving up rates for everybody," said Nowak. We will use this information to improve this page. Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. In the past year, the CPUC and the states utilities stepped up efforts to get eligible customers to sign up for the California Alternate Rates for Energy, or CARE, and the Family Electric Rates Assistance, or FERA programs. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program payments were down 40% compared to the previous year, according to PUC data. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). For additional help, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has a variety of programs that can help with energy bills, water and sewer bills, rent costs, eviction prevention, and more. The AGO strongly urges any Massachusetts consumer who considers signing up with a competitive supplier to read the AGOs FAQs on electric supply options here. By comparison, about 12 percent of customers had past-due balances in April 2019, amounting to $184million. Kathy Hochul announced the vast majority of $567 million dedicated to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past utility bills will be reflected on customers' August bills. In Fields' case, her supplier put her on a payment plan so she could just pay a few dollars a month. Some utilities stated they have been helping customers. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. Some individual water utilities are continuing to suspend shutoffs, even after state bans expire, while some others never do shutoffs at all for non-payment. Budget billing equalizes monthly payments over the course of 12 months so that you pay a predictable amount each month instead of seeing your bill amount fluctuate depending on the season, the price of energy, and customer usage. For more information about which programs you may be eligible for, use DCA's screening tool. Receive MRSC's latest articles and analysis through our Weekly Insights e-newsletter. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. The AGO encourages you to contact your electric or gas utility if the recent COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted your household income because you may be newly eligible for other assistance programs. More than 1 million customers were eligible for termination when Wolf sent the letter a month ago. We offered specific program design recommendations to deliver assistance to those with the greatest need; maximize public health benefits by using program funds to protect access to essential water service; ensure accountability for program spending by states and utilities; and generate data to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and determine how to improve upon it. FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. The heat dome of 2021 claimed the lives of 157 people in Washington State . Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist., 784 P.2d 1284 (Wash. Ct. App. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. Tripadvisor picks two for top 10 in U.S. San Diego airport gets $20M federal infrastructure grant to help Terminal 1 remodel, Boeing CEO loses $7M bonus, keeps $22.5 million compensation, Louisiana Gov. Why is my BGE bill so high 2021? In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. The risk of disconnection disproportionately harms communities of color. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. In the past MRSC has written that a utility is required to collect a past-due amount and that failing to do so may violate Article VIII section 7of the state constitution, which prohibits a government agency from gifting public funds. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. But the majority of these orders are . update email soon. MRSC offers a wide range of services to local governments and our contract partners in Washington State. John Bel Edwards is traveling to Asia for a weeklong series of meetings with business leaders and policymakers in the hopes of growing foreign investment, Stocks rallied on Wall Street, climbing to their biggest gain in six weeks, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. It allowed utilities to resume shutoffs on Nov. 9 but the ban was lifted for only three weeks before the annual winter shut-off went into effect on Dec. 1. BGE Customers With Disconnected Service Can Get Service Restored During COVID-19 Pandemic. Plus, if they wish to accelerate or make larger payments, they may do so. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC). So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. For businesses, the plan ensures that the monthly payment does not exceed 10 percent of the customers average monthly bill. Where available, the fact sheet provides links to federal program webpages and funding allocations to state, territorial, Tribal, and local grantees. When the remaining state or local moratoria are lifted, residential water customers who lose shutoff protections will face billions of dollars in arrears. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. The decision also calls on utilities to document follow-up efforts with community-based organizations to make sure hard-to-reach customers can sign up for relief programs. OLYMPIA, WA - With a bipartisan 64-31 vote, the Washington State House passed a bill to ensure a utility operator cannot shut off power or water when the National Weather Service issues a heat-related warning or alert. Gov. The decision essentially meant gas and electric utilities would be barred from disconnecting service through April 15, since the state's winter moratorium takes effect Nov. 1. If a small business enrolls in an electric or gas payment plan with its investor-owned utility company and the business makes its payments, it will be protected from electric or gas service disconnection for the duration of the payment plan. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. San Diego International Airport received the $20 million grant as part of the governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. The CPUCs oversight consists of ensuring that the utilities are clear about the rules they must adhere to, monitoring the utilities preparation, and evaluating their implementation. South Carolina utilities will stop cutting service to customers with unpaid bills during the novel coronavirus pandemic. To be eligible for your electric or gas utilitys low-income discount rate program or the arrearage management program (AMP), you must either qualify for LIHEAP funding, or receive food, cash, or medical benefits from the state.